First impressions are important in most things, and computer games are no exception. Make a solid first impression on me, and I'm vastly more inclined to overlook weak spots or contradictions in your design.

Give me choices, and make them mean something (or at least have the good graces to make me feel like they do), and it'll do a lot to soothe the savage beast that tends to rear his evil head when there's just something wonky or rediculous woven into the fabric of the game. Give me attention to detail and don't skimp on the small stuff, and I'll be far less likely to bite your head off when the game engine does something absurdly unexpected.

I, with my less-than-optimal desktop rig, dodged a great many of the initial setup bullets I've read in the "horror stories" section of the Apolyton CivIV forums (much to my relief!). The installation ran smoothly, and the game started without a hitch, upon the completion of the customary system restart, so we were off and running in that regard. The Intro Movie was impressive, even if it would only run in two-second intervals, before pausing for perhaps half a second. A minor gripe, which could be at least partly the fault of my less-than-maxed-out system. I'm willing to chalk it up to that and let it go, for one reason alone.

I want to believe.

Once we were through that, the game start menu came up beautifully, and the music had the same effect on me that [Alpha Centauri (SMAC)]'s introductary scene still has on me, to this day....I'm not sure there are words to describe it, but I assure you that it's a good feeling, and this makes only the second computer game to ever have that impact.

Good sign. Equally good was the fact that before the game even begins, you're greeted with a staggering array of choices. I like choices.

Choices are good things, and I get to make a number of them before I even start playing. Once again, the types of choices and the manner in which they're presented to me remind me of SMAC, and my fondness grows.

At first I am taken somewhat aback by the cartoonishness of the leaders who stand and greet me in various ways as I scroll through the list of nations I can opt to lead, but despite that--and perhaps in part, because of it--I find myself laughing at some of their antics (note to game designers everywhere: This is a perfect example of something I didn't like at first glance winning me over on account of the attention to detail!)

Selected my world type, and the various parameters I wanted to play in, and got treated to a monologue by none other than Mr. Spock! Nice touch, and interesting enough that I kept right on listening, even though the world was ready to greet me before his speech was even half done....and I'll probably do that again, too, cos the artwork is great!

And then, one little click, and I am transported to Earth, 4000 BC, and the dawning of the Egyptian civilization....   Next Page...

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